Guest Picks: Lowly

This July, we’ll be helping celebrate 20 years of record label Bella Union as Mercury Rev realise the symphonic potential of their widescreen Psych Pop alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Label mates Danish dream-Pop group, Lowly will provide support on the night. Ahead of the concert, we asked Soffie from the band to share what’s currently on their playlist…

Jesca Hoop, Pegasi: I am in Love with this song. There is a point in the song where it goes to a surprising chord, and that gets me everytime.

CTM – Escorted/The Road: CTM is a great lyricist, and her voice is warm and the arrangement of this song is just straight to the point. It’s fragmentet form and sound really inspires me.

ML Buch – Everybody Needs: She also has this very deep powerful voice, and her songs are very forward pushing in a sort of kraut / noisy way. Her entire album “Fleshy” is really great

PJ Harvey – The Mess We’re In: An old song from PJ, but I love her and her intensity. And I think this is a very succesful duet, that I don’t necessarily think is an easy thing to do.

Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let The Kids Win: I was really drawn into this by the opening line, and I love the pragmatic storyline throughout the song.

Ice Cream Cathedral – Diving for Pearls: This song is so pretty, ICC have a way of creating very original melodylines that I find very inspirering.

Karen Dalton – Reason to Believe: This is such a devestating song. Her voice and the lyrics are just really insanely sad and beautiful

Billie Van – I’m Totally Fine With It: An epic break up song, I love this for it’s scandinavian pop clarity and power. Some insane backing vocals in there!

Jenny Hval – Period Piece: Her productions and her lyrics are inventive and surprising. She is opening op the boundaries of what you can write about and how you expose yourself as the narrator.

Nico –These Days: I love her lacy almost nonchelant way of singing sort of out of pitch and that put up against these hifalutin string arrangements.

Solange – Mad: This song is so vibey and at the same time pretty frustrating when you listen to the lyrics. I like that mix of sneaking an important message while making people dance softly and soulfully. That goes for her entire album.

Kate Bush – Dream of Sheep: love her melodies, her voice and her lyrics

Missy Elliott – Im Better: I love to dance to this song, and a lot Missy’s other tracks. Love the line “I got food in my dining room/ I’m better, I’m better, I’m better” – it’s pretty basic what can make you feel good about your life.

Rihanna – Needed Me: a really sexy track with beautiful melody-lines.

Nicki Minaj – Monster: her rap just overwhelms the other dudes’ completely. She could have just been an unnoticed feature, but she makes the track I think.
Lowly support Mercury Rev with Royal Northern Sinfonia on Friday 14 July.